Ackerman Spring 2024

Henry Lichner delivered a commanding performance across the larger puzzles at the Ackerman Sports & Fitness Facility, capturing victories in three separate events to headline the weekend. His standout showing culminated in a 1:28.80 winning average in the 6x6x6 Cube alongside a 2:23.84 title in the 7x7x7 Cube. Speedcubing competitions often celebrate the quiet deliberate strategy of puzzle solving before the frantic pace of speed events takes over the venue. On June 15, 2024, the energy in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA was focused on intense head-to-head racing across six distinct disciplines.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a crowded field of 119 competitors, narrowing down through three full rounds of play. Ben Zhao secured first place with an impressive winning average of 6.69 seconds, highlighted by a sharp 5.21 best single. Brian Johnson pushed the pace in the final round, claiming second place with a 6.86 average, while Henry Lichner rounded out the podium in third with a 7.17 mark. The 3x3 results reflected intense parity among the finalists, setting a high standard for the entire Rubik's Cube program at Ackerman Spring 2024.

In the 4x4x4 Cube, Henry Lichner continued his winning run by taking the top spot on the podium with a 25.80 average and an event-best single of 23.31 seconds. Brian Johnson finished as the runner-up with a 27.92 average, followed by Carter Thomas who locked in third place at 30.10 seconds. Lichner had previously demonstrated exceptional consistency in the longest races of the day, securing the 6x6x6 Cube over Max Walaszek and Ben Zhao, before taking the 7x7x7 Cube ahead of Carter Thomas and Max Walaszek.

Short-format specialists also had their share of drama during the one-day gathering. The Skewb final concluded with razor-thin margins as Simon Kellum captured the title with a 2.70 average, edged just ahead of Carter Kucala at 2.73 and Lucas Lippman-Bruno at 2.78 seconds. In the Square-1 event, Brian Johnson dominated the two rounds of action, posting a decisive winning average of 6.34 seconds with a best single of 4.80. Carter Kucala took second with a 10.42 average, while Simon Kellum claimed third in 11.03 seconds.

Away from the top of the podium, several participants made substantial strides across multiple brackets. Cash Carlson took on four events, securing a 59.4 percent drop to 6.60 seconds for a new Skewb personal best alongside a 52.6 percent improvement to 38.97 in Square-1, while also logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:19.28. Evan Z. Kong cut 43.2 percent off his Skewb mark to hit 9.38 seconds and posted a first ever attempt at Square-1 of 53.29. Abby Enwia improved her Skewb best by 46.3 percent down to 6.56 seconds, while Shivansh Upadhyay dropped his Square-1 best by 37.3 percent to 1:04.67 and recorded a first ever attempt at Skewb in 6.14.

The personal achievements continued through the longer puzzles and side disciplines. Colin Sharpe competed in six events, earning his best finish of 34th in 7x7x7 Cube, recording a first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 7:11.20, and shaving 34.4 percent off his Square-1 best down to 27.00 seconds. Jameson R. Sramek achieved a 55.6 percent personal best cut in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 53.10 clocking and logged a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 3:34.49. Austin Gong tackled four events, setting a first ever attempt at Skewb in 15.15 seconds, while Marlon Herrera claimed a best finish of 22nd in 6x6x6 Cube and posted a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 3:32.93.

Across 11 completed rounds, the cubing competition demonstrated the impressive breadth of talent across the Midwest. A total of 119 competitors tested their preparation and dexterity across classic three-layered puzzles, complex rotational mechanisms, and large-cube hardware. Every discipline demanded specific tactical approaches, from the fast geometric turns of Skewb to the endurance and memory required for big cube parity management.

As the final tables were packed away at Ackerman Spring 2024, the event concluded with United States competitors sweeping all 18 podium positions across the six featured categories. The successful speed cubing gathering in Glen Ellyn highlighted both veteran precision and rising individual milestones. With solid marks established across the board, participants now look forward to building on their momentum as the WCA competition schedule heads into the heart of the summer season.